Diaper tape fastener

ABSTRACT

A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having front and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper. The fastener has a release sheet secured to the front surface of the diaper and extending to adjacent a side edge of the diaper. The fastener has a pressuresensitive tape strip extending around the side edge of the diaper, with the strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the diaper. The strip also has a second end section having a securement portion releasably attached to the release sheet, and tab means adjacent the outer end of the securement portion relative the side edge of the diaper, with the tab means having an adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface of the diaper to provide for easy removal of the securement portion from the release sheet.

United States Patent Karami July 8, 1975 DIAPER TAPE FASTENER Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery [75] Inventor. Hamzeh Karaml, Crystal Lake, lll. Attorney, g or Firm-Powell L p g [73] Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, New

York, N.Y.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: May 23, 1974 A tape fastener for a disposable diaper havlng front PP N04 472,530 and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper. The 521 US. Cl. 128/287; 24/7; 128/284; fasten" has a release Sheet Secured to the from 229/85 face of the diaper and extending to adjacent a side 511 1111. C1. A61f 13/16; A41b 13/02 edge of the diaper- The fastener has a Pressure- [58] w f Search 24/7; 128/284 236 287, sensitive tape strip extending around the side edge of 123/290, 296., 229,85 the diaper, with the strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the diaper. The strip also [56] Reierences Cited hals a sztfond endhszction ll11avingla secuzzment pgrtiorl;

re easa y attac e to t e re ease s eet, an ta UNlTED STATES PATENTS means adjacent the outer end of the securement por- 2,400,406 5/1946 Godoy 229/85 tion relative the side dg of the diaper with the tab gfi t i means having an adhesive free surface portion facing 3 630 201 12/1971 EEMIIIIIIIIII :1: 128/287 the from Surface the dial) 9 Pmvide easy 3:646:93? 3/1972 Gellert............. 128/287 mval of securemem fmm the "lease 3.776234 12/1973 Hoey 128/287 Sheet- 3,8l0,472 5 1974 Aldin er... 128/287 3,848,594 111974 Buellf 128/284 14 Clam, 8 Drawmg Flgll'es DIAPER TAPE FASTENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various tape fasteners have been proposed for use in securing disposable diapers about an infant. Such fasteners have often taken the form of a tape strip having one end anchored to the backside of the diaper and an attachment end covered by a release sheet which is removed during placement of the diaper. Parents have found that the use of these fasteners is frequently inconvenient since the release sheets must be discarded after each diaper placement. Other tape fasteners have resulted in a relatively complex structure, which unnecessarily adds to the cost of diapers and detracts from their desirability, since the cost of a disposable product is a key factor to its salability.

Thus, a need has been found for an inexpensive tape fastener which eliminates the necessity for disposal of release sheets during diaper placement, while providing other characteristics desired in such a fastener. In particular, if the attachment force between the tape strip and the release sheet is sufficiently high to prevent premature release of the strip from the release sheet, the fastener should provide for easy removal of the strip from the release sheet during placement of the diaper. Contrawise, if the attachment force between the strip and the release sheet is relatively low, the fastener should prevent premature release of the strip from the release sheet prior to diaper placement. Moreover, it is desirable that the fasteners prevent peeling of the strips from the diaper by the infant after placement, particularly when the diaper is worn by an older child who is inclined to pull at the strips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principle feature of the present invention is the provision of a tape fastener for a disposable diaper of simplified construction and which permits convenient placement of the diaper on an infant.

The tape fastener of the present invention includes a release sheet secured to a front surface of the diaper and which extends to adjacent a side edge of the diaper. The fastener also has a pressure-sensitive tape strip extending around the side edge of the diaper, with the strip having a first end section secured to a back surface of the diaper, and a second end section having a securement portion releasably attached to the release sheet. The second end section has tab means adjacent the outer end of the securement portion relative the side edge of the diaper.

A feature of the present invention is that the tab means has an adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface of the diaper to provide for easy removal of the securement portion from the release sheet.

Another feature of the invention is that the tab means provides for easy removal of the securement portion where the attachment force between the securement portion and release sheet is relatively high.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for releasably retaining the tab means against a surface of the diaper.

Yet another feature of the invention is that the retaining means releasably retains the tab means against a front surface of the diaper to prevent premature release of the securement portion from the release sheet where the attachment force between the securement portion and the release sheet is relatively low.

Still another feature of the invention is that the retaining means secures the tab means against a surface of the diaper after placement to prevent peeling of the tape strip from the diaper by the infant.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the following description of the embodiments of this invention and from the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a diaper having one embodiment of the tape fastener of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 22 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a securement portion in one of the tape fasteners of FIG. I as removed from a release sheet in the fastener;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tape strip in another embodiment of the tape fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tape strip in another embodiment of the tape fastener of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tape strip in another embodiment of the tape fastener of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of an embodi' ment of the tape fastener of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the tape fastener of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a disposable box-pleated diaper generally designated 20 having a fluid impervious backing sheet 22, a fluid pervious cover sheet 24, and an absorbent pad therebetween (not shown). The diaper 20 has a pair of side edges 26a and 26b at the outermost ends of the uppermost sections of the pleats, and a pair of end edges 28a and 28b connecting the side edges 26a and b.

A pair of tape fasteners generally designated 30 are located adjacent each of the side edges 26a and b and adjacent one of the end edges 28a for use in placement of the diaper on an infant. Each of the tape fasteners 30 has a release sheet 32 secured to a front surface 34 of the diaper 20, such as by adhesive, such that each of the release sheets 32 extends to adjacent the respective side edge 26a and 26b of the diaper. Each of the fasteners 30 has a pressure-sensitive tape strip 36 which extends around the respective side edge 260 and 26b of the diaper, and which has adhesive 48 on one side facing toward the diaper. The strips 36 have a first end section 38 secured by the adhesive 48 to a back surface 40 of the diaper and a second end section 42 having a securement portion 44 releasably attached by the adhesive to the release sheet 32.

The second end sections 42 of the strips have folded over tabs 46 adjacent the outer end of the second end sections relative the diaper side edges 26a and 26b with adhesive on the tabs 46 engaging against adhesive on the strips adjacent the tabs. Thus, the tabs 46 define tab means 47 adjacent the outer end of the securement portions 44 having an adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface 34 of the diaper when the securement portions are attached to the release sheets. An-

other embodiment of the tab means is illustrated in FIG. 4, in which a strip of material 50, such as plastic, covers an outer end portion of the adhesive on the second end section 42 of the tape strip 36. The tab means 47 provides for easy removal of the securement portions 44 from the release sheets 32, particularly when the attachment force between the securement portions and release sheets is relatively high to prevent premature release of the strips prior to placement of the diaper, in which case removal of the strips from the release sheets would be difficult without the tab means.

The tab means 47 in the tape strips 36 of the embodiments of FIGS. 46 may also have opening means 54 to expose adhesive 48 through the tab means. For example, the strip of material 50 may have at least one aperture 56 extending through the strip of material 50 to expose adhesive 48. The tab 46 in the strip 36 of FIG. 5 is shown as having a plurality of apertures 58 to expose adhesive through the tab 46, while the tab 46 in the strip of FIG. 6 has a notch 60 adjacent its inner edge 62 relative the respective side edge of the diaper.

The use of the opening means 54 in the tape strips of FIGS. 4-6 is described in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8 as follows. In the diaper of FIG. 7, the release sheet 32 extends a sufficient distance from the side edge 26b of the diaper to cover the opening means 54 when the securement portion 44 of the strip is attached to the release sheet 32. in this embodiment of the tape fastener 30, the release sheet 32 and securement portion 44 of the strip may have a relatively high attachment force to prevent premature release of the securement portion from the release sheet, and the adhesive exposed through the opening means 54 serves to anchor the tab means to the release sheet prior to use of the strip in placing the diaper, while the adhesive free surface of the tab means permits easy removal of the strip from the release sheet. After securement of the diaper about an'infant with the strips, the adhesive exposed through the opening means 54 anchors the tab means 47 against a surface of the diaper, i.e., the backing sheet 22, to prevent the infant from grasping at the tab means and peeling the strip from the diaper.

In the tape fastener 30 of HG. 8, the remote end 64 of the release sheet 32 relative the side edge 26b of the diaper is spaced from the opening means 54 when the securement portion 44 of the strip is attached to the release sheet. In this embodiment, the release sheet and securement portion 44 of the strip may have a relatively low attachment force, but the adhesive exposed through the opening means 54 of the tab means 47 engages against the front surface 34 of the diaper to retain the tab means against the diaper and prevent prema ture release of the strip from the release sheet. The adhesive facing through the opening means 54 also retains the tab means against a surface of the diaper after placement, as previously described, to prevent peeling of the strip from the diaper by the infant.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art. For example, it is apparent that the tape fasteners of the present invention may be used on diapers other than those having a box-pleat, such as a flat diaper.

I claim:

1. A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having front and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper, said fastener comprising:

a release sheet secured to the front surface of the diaper adjacent a side edge of the diaper; and

a pressure-sensitive tape strip extending around the side edge of the diaper, said strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the diaper, and a second end section having a securement portion releasably attached to said release sheet, and tab means adjacent the outer end of said securement portion relative the side edge of the diaper and having an adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface of the diaper to provide for easy removal of the securement portion from said release sheet, said tab means comprising a strip of material covering at least a portion of adhesive adjacent the outer end of the second end section, and including means for releasably retaining said tab means adjacent a surface of said diaper.

2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said second end section of the strip has adhesive extending to its outer edge relative the side edge of the diaper.

3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said strip of material has opening means exposing adhesive of said second end section.

4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said strip of material comprises a folded over tab of the second end section adjacent its outer end, with said tab engaging adhesive on the tape strip adjacent the tab.

5. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said strip of material is separate from said second end section.

6. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of apertures in said strip of material.

7. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said opening means comprises a notch in the strip of material adjacent the inner edge of the strip of material relative the side edge of the diaper.

8. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said release sheet extends a sufficient distance from the side edge of the diaper to cover said opening means when the securement portion of the strip is attached to the release sheet.

9. The fastener of claim 3 wherein the remote end of said release sheet relative the side edge of the diaper is spaced from said opening means when the securement portion of the strip is attached to the release sheet.

N). A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having from and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper, said fastener comprising:

a release sheet secured to the front surface of the diaper adjacent a side edge of the diaper, said release sheet having a substantially continuous release surface; and

a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape strip extending around the side edge of the diaper, said strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the diaper, and a second end section having a securement portion releasably attached to said release sheet, and tab means at the outer end of said securement portion relative the side edge of the diaper and having an adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface of the diaper to provide for easy removal of the securement portion from said release sheet, said tab means comprising a strip of material attached to an adhesive portion of the tape strip adjacent the outer end of the second end section and being free of attachment to said diaper.

11. The fastener of claim wherein the strip of material comprises a folded over tab of the second end section adjacent its outer end.

12. The fastener of claim 11 wherein adhesive on the tab engages adhesive on the tape strip adjacent the tab.

13. The fastener of claim 10 wherein the strip of material is separate from the second end section.

14. A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having front and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper, said fastener comprising:

a release sheet secured to the front surface of the diaper adjacent a side edge of the diaper; and

a pressure-sensitive tape strip extending around the face of the diaper.

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1. A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having front and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper, said fastener comprising: a release sheet secured to the front surface of the diaper adjacent a side edge of the diaper; and a pressure-sensitive tape strip extending around the side edge of the diaper, said strip having a firSt end section secured to the back surface of the diaper, and a second end section having a securement portion releasably attached to said release sheet, and tab means adjacent the outer end of said securement portion relative the side edge of the diaper and having a adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface of the diaper to provide for easy removal of the securement portion from said release sheet, said tab means comprising a strip of material covering at least a portion of adhesive adjacent the outer end of the second end section, and including means for releasably retaining said tab means adjacent a surface of said diaper.
 2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said second end section of the strip has adhesive extending to its outer edge relative the side edge of the diaper.
 3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said strip of material has opening means exposing adhesive of said second end section.
 4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said strip of material comprises a folded over tab of the second end section adjacent its outer end, with said tab engaging adhesive on the tape strip adjacent the tab.
 5. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said strip of material is separate from said second end section.
 6. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of apertures in said strip of material.
 7. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said opening means comprises a notch in the strip of material adjacent the inner edge of the strip of material relative the side edge of the diaper.
 8. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said release sheet extends a sufficient distance from the side edge of the diaper to cover said opening means when the securement portion of the strip is attached to the release sheet.
 9. The fastener of claim 3 wherein the remote end of said release sheet relative the side edge of the diaper is spaced from said opening means when the securement portion of the strip is attached to the release sheet.
 10. A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having front and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper, said fastener comprising: a release sheet secured to the front surface of the diaper adjacent a side edge of the diaper, said release sheet having a substantially continuous release surface; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape strip extending around the side edge of the diaper, said strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the diaper, and a second end section having a securement portion releasably attached to said release sheet, and tab means at the outer end of said securement portion relative the side edge of the diaper and having an adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface of the diaper to provide for easy removal of the securement portion from said release sheet, said tab means comprising a strip of material attached to an adhesive portion of the tape strip adjacent the outer end of the second end section and being free of attachment to said diaper.
 11. The fastener of claim 10 wherein the strip of material comprises a folded over tab of the second end section adjacent its outer end.
 12. The fastener of claim 11 wherein adhesive on the tab engages adhesive on the tape strip adjacent the tab.
 13. The fastener of claim 10 wherein the strip of material is separate from the second end section.
 14. A tape fastener for a disposable diaper having front and back surfaces facing toward and away from an infant, respectively, after placement of the diaper, said fastener comprising: a release sheet secured to the front surface of the diaper adjacent a side edge of the diaper; and a pressure-sensitive tape strip extending around the side edge of the diaper, said strip having a first end section secured to the back surface of the diaper, and a second end section having a securement portion releasably attached to said release sheet, and tab means adjacent the outer end of said securement portion Relative the side edge of the diaper and having an adhesive free surface portion facing the front surface of the diaper to provide for easy removal of the securement portion from said release sheet, and means defining an adhesive portion for removably securing the tab means to a surface of the diaper. 